Reds, whites, sparkling, and dessert, let’s be honest, wine is taking over!  Looking for a fun atmosphere with a variety of wine? Los Angeles is filled with trendy places for those of you who enjoy a good glass of wine or even for those looking to try something new.  Tired of crowded bars? Wine bars are great places for a cozier scene to where one can relax and enjoy good conversation. Whether it is dinner, wine classes, or wine pairing events, http://lawinetasting.com/ is a site to definitely keep you entertained. It has the ins and outs of wine events around LA and allows you to explore your curiosities of the fermented grape.

When it comes to a local hangout, Bodega wine bar is a must! (http://www.bodegawinebar.com/)  With two locations – one in Santa Monica and one in Pasadena – this wine bar is nothing short of a good time! Bodega’s philosophy of “having fun, trying something new, sharing, and trusting your taste,” can make any wine enthusiast feel welcomed and ready to kick back and relax in this casual atmosphere. This place is great for private parties or even singles ready to mingle. The people who work at Bodega encourage and often insist on introducing people to make that atmosphere even friendlier.  To keep this scene even simpler, all wines are priced the same. Not sure what to choose? The bartenders are more than willing to explain the taste of each.  When “trusting your taste,” Bodega supports making up “your own mind” and “never worrying about what wine critics have to say.” They strongly believe that what tastes good to you, should always be considered a good glass of wine!

All this talk about wine making you hungry? Bodega also has well priced appetizers that pair very well with their selection.  From the traditional cheese plates to a warm chocolate brownie, Bodega makes wine and food a night to indulge and to let your taste buds explore what goes best with certain wines.   

Now for those of you who don’t know much about wine but are willing to learn, Ugo Wine Bar in Culver City is the place for you! (http://www.cafeugo.com/) Great for a fun night out, or an intimate date, Ugo’s Wine bar allows you to taste as many wines as you please without feeling overwhelmed. The way Ugo works is one is able to fill a debit card with as much money as they want.  The wines are separated into different categories and even have a brief synopsis of where they came from, how they are made, and the pairing that goes best with their specific taste.

The great idea about this is that ten dollars is plenty!  If one glass does not meet your needs, you can just as easy pour the glass out and move on to the next one. Also, the card never expires. If you are ready to call it a night, yet still have money on your card, you can come back any time to try more wines. Ugo’s Wine Bar is a great place for a date!  To ease the pressure, what makes this place perfect is the fact that if the conversation dies, the different synopsis of wines around you can pick it right back up.  The intimate setting also helps if you’re past that awkward stage and just enjoy the romantic ambiance.  Now that you feel more like a wine connoisseur, I hope you enjoy the diversity wine can bring.

Rita